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158
Surveyor's Department, Town Hall.
October 8th, 1892.
REPORT ON MR. R. HARRIS REEVES' PROPOSAL
Be DEODORIZATION OF SEWAGE, NORTH END ROAD.
I have been asked to report on the proposal made by Mr. R. H.
Reeves to deodorize the sewage flowing through the North End Road
sewer in this district.
proposal.
His suggestion is to fix in some of the manholes of this sewer a
number of automatic apparatus for applying nianganate of soda and
sulphuric acid (which, I am informed, is a similar but stronger preparation
than Condy's Fluid) to the sewage.
experience at frome.
The system appears to have been working at Frome for some years
in a satisfactory manner, and Mr. Phillip Edinger, the Surveyor to
the Frome Local Board, writes—" That we have had them in use
several seasons, and at every manhole in which they have been fixed
no smell has been complained of from the open gratings; while in
other parts of the town we are obliged to close those manholes not
having the system in or near them."
My first enquiries have been made with a view of ascertaining how
far the chemicals adopted by Mr. Reeves would effect the proposed
object.
reports by metropolitan board.
Effect of applied' ion (taring Smallpox Epidemic.
For this purpose I called upon Mr. W. J. Dibdin, tho Chemist to
the London County Council, who has used the chemicals for many
years for a similar object, and I find that they are spoken of in the
report to the Sanitary Committee of the Metropolitan Board, dated
January, 1886, as having been "applied by the Board to the whole
of the metropolitan sewage with successful results, when the
epidemic of smallpox occurred in the summer of 1885.
The death-rate in 1885 from small-pox was 224 per million. The
treatment was continued during 1886 and 1887: deaths from smallpox
in 1886, 1 per million ; and in 1887, 2 per million.
These chemicals were applied on the main sewers in the various
districts and at the outfall.
I his report to the Board points out the great benefit which would
arise from "a complete system of sewage deodorization within the
metropolis."
Recommendation to generally adopt system of deodorization.
It finally recommends "that the system of deodorization during
the summer be arranged for the main sewers on the plan adopted by
the Board during the past summer and that Local Boards be
requested to adopt a similar system with local sewers."